The Forouzandeh Firoozi Memorial Fund

We are honored to announce The Forouzandeh Firoozi Memorial Fund, created to celebrate the life of an amazing woman. Born in the city of Rasht in Iran, Forouz was bright and hardworking from an early age. As a young girl she loved to draw and dance, and dreamed of following in the footsteps of Marie Curie. At 21, Forouz immigrated to Sweden to study electrical engineering and earned a Bachelor and Master’s Degree in Science from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. After graduating, she moved to the United States, where she helped build the country’s early cellphone network. Forouz later earned an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business while raising her son, Daniel. Never one to shy away from a challenge, Forouz pivoted to a career in financial services and went on to work at Bank of America and finally Wells Fargo as a Senior Vice President.

She was a loving wife, a caring mother, and a fierce friend. She loved all things Disney and was a patron of the arts. Graceful, passionate, and thoughtful, Forouz was a ray of sunshine with an infectious smile and a large presence in any space she entered.

On May 27, 2021, Forouz passed away from cancer. She was 58 years old. While she will be greatly missed, her spirit lives on in the hearts of the many people whose lives she touched. Forouz is survived by Fabian, Daniel, and her mother, Zarin.

The Forouzandeh Firoozi Memorial Fund will provide funding and support for girls and young women to attend school in rural India. To honor Forouz’s impact and interests, funding will be used to promote female empowerment in the fields of chemistry, engineering and the sciences. 

To donate, please visit our website: www.friendsofpadharschools.org or send a check to Friends of Padhar Schools, 112 Harvard Avenue #101, Claremont CA 91711.

Student Sponsorship Program 2021

Our Student Sponsorship Program is coming in July - revamped for a brand new year!

Summer Arts and Crafts Sale - Success!

Many thanks to all who participated in our online fundraiser, our Summer Arts and Craft Sale. We raised $1970.42 to support our schools as they prepare for reopening. Many thanks to those artists and artisans who donated items to our sale:

• Betty Baker of Hawaii Soap Company

• KC Wilkerson and Robert Hahn of Apothika Candle Co.

• Risa Vargas of PartCactus

• Author Kristin A. Sherry

• Terry M. Givens with Pelekinesis

• Molly Vetter

• Nancy Taylor

• Carol A. Coy

• Lily Villamin

• Emily Yu

• Alicia Jackson

• Stephanie Rice

• Karen Clark Ristine

June 17-19 Summer Arts and Craft Sale

Our Summer Arts and Craft Sale begins on Thursday! Do you need some handmade artisan soap from Hawaii Soap Company or a small-batch soy candle from Apothika Candle Co? Do you need some art for that new place you're moving into? Check out our 90 items up for sale by clicking on the button below.

Summer Arts and Crafts Sale - Online June 17-19, 2021

Randalls Read-A-Thon Fundraiser!

For several years, Revs. Dan and Cortney Randall have hosted a Read-A-Thon to rasie money for Friends of Padhar Schools. This year, due to Pandemic restrictions, they decided to do it a little differently: Although the group was not able to meet in person, the Randall kids, Ceara, Caleb and Caden, hosted the Read-A-Thon virtually, with some friends and family. They gathered around Zoom to share with others about the schools of Padhar. Those who have participated in the past shared about what it means to help support another child with books and educational supplies. In Charlotte,NC the Randall kids decorated their backyard with a camping theme for the reading part of the adventure. The tent, camping chairs, fire ring accompanied a three tier hammock. Some of the people stayed together virtually to read with one another for part of the three hours. Snacks for the event were based on food ideas gleaned from some of their favorite books.

Caleb made chocolate covered pretzels from Mr. Lemoncello's Library and rats on a raft from the Narnia Series. Caden baked cupcakes from If You Give a Cat a Cupcake. They joined together at the end to talk about why we love to read and to share book recommendations. Reading gives us an ability to travel to different places and to be a part of a greater adventure. Reading can be a friend, especially in this socially distant time. Reading can give others hope. It was a wonderful Read-A-Thon with friends from Colorado, Oregon, North Carolina and Massachusetts.

Many thanks to the Randall Family for the creative fundraiser!

New Laboratory for Happy Valley English School!

This year, we began a 2-year project to provide a Chemistry, Biology and Physics lab at Happy Valley English School. This year’s funding provided lab infrastructure: indoor plumbing, multiple sinks, tables with washable surfaces and storage. Many thanks to our donors for bringing these opportunities to the students of Padhar.

Goals for 2020-2021 Met!

When our fundraising year began, we had no idea what was in store! In our February 2020 Board meeting, we established projects to fund for the eight schools we support, and a fundraising plan to meet those goals. As the year changed, as the schools shut down, as other funding sources dried up, the needs of our eight schools transformed and we were called to adapt to the new reality. Our Pre-COVID plans included funding for classroom equipment and materials, sewing machines and school uniforms; as the COVID shutdowns shifted classes online, our focus turned to school survival. This week, we completed our our fundraising year and here is how we distributed those funds.

• Padhar Mission Higher Secondary School: This year, we sent $5000 for a Teacher’s salary fund and for student support. Students at the Mission School have returned to in-person class for the 10th-12th classes and are currently preparing for end of the year exams.

• Padhar Mission Primary School: $750 was sent to provide teacher salary support and to purchase masks, Hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies to prepare the school for the return of students to in-person class.

• Panchsheel Ashram School: This year, we sent $6500 to support the student sponsorship program and to provide text books, notebooks and writing materials to each student. Teachers delivered materials to each student in their villages, some more than 30km. away from the school. Local students are attending school with 10th and 12th classes taking end-of-the-year exams.

• School and Rehabilitation Centre for the Blind, Padhar: $2400 was sent this year for Student Sponsorship program.

• Felix Convent School, Paratwada: This year, we sent $3500 for Teacher’s Salary support and to begin building the infrastructure for the Biology, Chemistry and Physics laboratory.

• Happy Valley English School, Padhar: This year, we sent $6474.00 to provide support for student scholarships, teachers’ salary support and to begin building the infrastructure for the Biology, Chemistry and Physics laboratory.

• St. Mark School, Sarni: Due to the changes with in-person class, we postponed funding for new desks and benches, and tables for the teachers. We will address that need in the new funding year. We did send $1000 for support for teachers’ salaries.

• Ebenzer Education Society: $2500 was sent to support the English Medium School, providing supplies for classroom cleaning, masks and hand sanitizer, as well as text books, notebooks and writing supplies.

Today, we completed our fundraising year with a total of $28,124.00 sent to India. Many thanks to our donors and supporters! Soon, we will prepare for the new school year beginning in June which will hopefully include the Director’s visit to our schools.

A Note from Happy Valley English School

An Update on Happy Valley English School:

Following the government’s regulations, classes from 1st-8th grade at Happy Valley are online only. Teachers have been conducting 2 classes every day, but the school session has already finished. These classes are conducting 1-unit test every month, quarterly exams were in September last year, half yearly exams were in December last year and final exams are scheduled for the 2nd week of March for these classes. There are total 398 students in these classes. 

For classes 9th to 12th, in-person learning began on December 18, 2020. There are 84 students in these classes and they are recording full attendance. Mandatory requirements include wearing masks, taking temperatures daily, using hand sanitizer and maintaining social distancing are strictly followed during classroom studies. We can not run our busses as per government order; hence students are coming in by their own conveyance. Normally, school timings were 9 AM to 3 PM with 8 periods with a lunch break, but now it has been trimmed down to 10 AM to 2 PM with 6 periods and small break. Most of the syllabus have been completed and revisions are going on. Exams for 9th and 11th classes are scheduled in March with other classes. For class 10th and 12th which will be conducted by government and proposed in April/May.

#GivingTuesday2020 Matching Amount

Great News and Many Thanks! Facebook matched $305 of our donations on #givingtuesday2020! Many thanks to all who woke up early to donate. Every dollar counts!

Happy New Year!

Happy New year to you from the teachers, schools and students of Friends of Padhar Schools! As the pandemic continues to postpone in-person classes, teachers have developed creative ways to teach using technology, social media and YouTube. Throughout this crisis, we have continued our work to provide our schools with the materials, equipment and support needed. We appreciate your support as 2020 comes to an end and new possibilities emerge with a new year.

#GivingTuesday2020 - Thank you!

Many thanks to all our supporters, donors, friends and connections for your generosity on #givingtuesday2020! With all our fundraisers combined, we raised $4425! Many thanks to Loreen Brown, Amy Aitken, Erika Gara and Krista S Givens for hosting Facebook fundraisers this year and to all who woke up early to try to meet the Facebook match. We will be notified soon about our Facebook matching funds. Thanks again for your support!

#GivingTuesday2020

#GivingTuesday is TODAY, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to participate in this year’s global celebration of giving. Join Friends of Padhar Schools by contributing to our goal of $4,000! To donate click here.

Holiday Sale 2020 - Thank you!

Our Holiday Craft sale is now complete and we raised approximately $1850.00! I say approximately because I am still getting inquiries and people wondering if they can purchased unsold items (Yes, you can!). Many thanks to those who shopped and shared! Your help was vital to bring books and school supplies to the children of Panchsheel School in Bahiram, Maharashtra, India.

I would also like to thank those who donated items for our sale and encourage you to shop their online stores this holiday season:

Apothika Candle Co.: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ApothikaCandleCo

Hawaii Soap Company: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HawaiiSoapCompany

Lisa Hunter, jBloom designer: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1113128362081104

Vi Marie Art and Things: https://www.facebook.com/vimarieart

Kristin A. Sherry, author: https://kristinsherry.info/buy-books/

Holiday Sale 2020- Day 2

We’ve had great response to our holiday sale! So far we’ve raised $1243.00 and we have one more day to go! We still have some wonderful gifts and holiday decor, wrapping and cards available, so take a moment and browse through our offerings. All proceeds benefit our Give Books program at Panchsheel Ashram School.

https://go.rallyup.com/fopsholidaysale/6DP6ZV

Holiday Sale 2020 - Day 1

Our First day of our Holiday Sale was amazing! Many thanks to all who browsed, shopped and ordered. Our first batch of packages is being sent today. On Day One, we raised $953 for the students of Panchsheel Ashram School, to provide books and supplies to each child. Our sale extends through Sunday and can be accessed here:

https://go.rallyup.com/fopsholidaysale/6DP6ZV

*Photo taken in January 2020 at Panscheel Ashram School, Bahiram, Maharashtra.

Calling All Crafters!

We are having an online sale this Thanksgiving weekend and need items to sell! All proceeds will benefit the students, teachers and schools of rural India. Can you help by donating your craft projects to our holiday fundraiser?

Checking In with three of our Schools

Students and Teachers from the School and Rehabilitation Centre for the Blind (SRCB Padhar) keep us updated.

Last week we completed some "check-ins" with our schools in Padhar via Zoom. Board Members Amy Aitken and Krista Givens met with the Education Committee for Happy Valley English School and the School’s principal. Currently, as the school facilities are shut down due to COVID-19, grades Kindergarten-8th class are meeting on What’s App and grades 9th-12th are meeting on Google Classroom. Teachers are uploading videos for students to access, although access to smartphones, computers and WIFI is limited.

During a Zoom visit with teachers from the School and Rehabilitation Centre for the Blind, a few of the 20 students who are living at the residential facility came to say “hello. “ What a joy to see their faces and hear that they are doing well. School is expected to reopen mid-November, but since the SRCB is a live-in facility, about 20 children remain at the facility and are being cared for there.

During the visit with the Padhar Mission Primary School, we were pleased to learn that they are ready to hire two additional teachers with the support we’ve sent this year. They are using some of the monies we’ve sent to purchase hand sanitizer, masks and other safety materials for the children when they return to school.

We are still working hard to provide education to our children, even in these difficult times. Sending our love and best wishes to the teachers and students of Happy Valley English School, Padhar Mission Primary School and the School and Rehabilitation Centre for the Blind.

Amy and Krista met with the Education Committee of Padhar Hospital to discuss the current situation at Happy Valley English School.

Mrs. Alpheus, Head Teacher at Mission Primary School in Padhar, describes the situation.

Yogesh's Initiative to Help

Yogesh, 12th class student of Padhar Mission Higher Secondary school created a WhatsApp group and is gathering students to attend online classes. He is blind and is always focused on his study. Many thanks to Mrs. Ratna Sadanshiv for the photos!

Mahesh's path forward

Recently, Mahesh passed the 12th class exam and is now awaiting college admission. Now with a new sensor stick, he is ready for his future and all that lies ahead. Many thanks to Mrs. Ratna Sandashiv, teacher at the Padhar Mission Higher Secondary School, for the photo.